The Petroleum Product Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has attributed the recent increase in petrol truck crashes to three primary factors: driver negligence, deteriorating road conditions, and faulty petrol trucks.

In an interview with DAILY POST, the Rivers State Chairman of PETROAN, Francis Dimkpa clarified that the recent fire incidents are caused by petrol spills igniting, rather than by explosions or substandard petrol as some social media users have suggested.

Dimkpa explained that when petrol spills occur, “the heat from the roads combined with public attempts to collect the spilled petrol can ignite fires”, and stressed that all stakeholders must play their part in preventing these dangerous incidents.

He added that PETROAN is actively sensitizing petrol truck drivers to exercise greater caution while urging truck owners to “ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained and roadworthy.”

Dimkpa also called on the public to maintain a safe distance from fallen petrol trucks, emphasizing that “no amount of salvaged petrol is worth risking human life.”

Recent reports have documented multiple incidents of loaded petrol trucks falling in various parts of the country, resulting in several casualties.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has imposed a ban on 60,000-litre petrol tankers operating on roads across the country.

In February, NMDPRA announced that as of March 1, 2025, trucks with this capacity would no longer be permitted to load fuel at any depot nationwide.

Additionally, by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be prohibited from loading petroleum products.

The regulatory body stated that these measures are the first steps in addressing the ongoing issue of petroleum tanker accidents and explosions, which have resulted in numerous fatalities across the country.